“Do you want to live in the sun?” he asked quietly. “Or do you want to go back in the shadows?” – 3.25/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: London, hotels, gardens, stars, breakfasts, acting jobs, reading tables, beards, tabloids, absent parents, trucks, makeup artists, barns and scripts.

Meh… not my favorite book ever, but also not bad. Second chance romances are not usually my jam as it is, but this fell flat for me. I just had a constant feeling that something was missing!

The characters were kind of boring and – even though I really tried – I didn’t connect to any of them. I didn’t care for Tate, or Sam, or the relationship between Tate and her dad, the acting bits… almost nothing!

I listened to this as an audiobook and the narration was also not that great, in my opinion. I wasn’t a fan of the way the narrator did the male voices, but it didn’t bothered me a lot.

And this is only a pet peeve of mine, but I wish the title had more to do with the story! I mean, I get why it’s named Twice in a Blue Moon, but I wish there was a better title that would define the book better.

Not gonna lie, there is nothing special about this book. There is nothing wrong with it and it was still kind of entertaining… but it was SO basic.

xoxo, Neide

“…we often mistake love for fireworks – for drama and dysfunction. But real love is very quiet, very still. It’s boring, if seen from the perspective of high drama. Love is deep and calm – and constant.” – 4/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: harps, paintings, rifles, nosy neighbours, five shots to the head, diaries, tabloids, car accidents and plain silence.

And the award for the craziest plot twist ever goes toooo… *drum roll*… THE SILENT PATIENT!

I don’t think I’ve ever reacted to a plot twist in such a physical, awkward way. When I read the sentence that would change the book, I started shaking and felt a mixture of fear, dizziness, shock and panic for about thirty seconds. I REALLY didn’t see that coming… It was incredible! And after you read that line, you can’t think about the book in the same way. I was seriously considering giving this book 3 stars, but the plot twist was so good it deserved one extra star.

This book is about a painter who allegedly killed her husband right after he came home with five shots to the face. The problem is that no one knows exactly what happened and why it happened, because the woman never spoke another word. Six years later, a psychotherapist, who was always interested in this crime, started working in the mental hospital where she currently is, with the intent of working with her and helping her speak again.

To be completely fair, I thought the concept and execution were perfect, but I thought the book was kind of slow and I kept thinking where is this story going. But then the end came and now I know the wait was completely worth it. In this book everything happens for a reason, but the pieces are only put together at the very end.

If you are a fan of psychological thrillers, this is a good book. Like I said it was kind of slow at first, but it gets there eventually. The plot twist alone makes it worth reading it!

xoxo, Neide

“It’s strange how many ways there are to miss someone. You miss the things they did and who they were, but you also miss who you were to them. The way everything you said and did was beautiful or entertaining or important. How much you mattered.” – 4/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: trunks, concerts, ADHD, school psychologists, teleportation, school plays, small clothes, rides, lists, 10 million stars and cages.

Good morning y’all!

Today I bring you my review on the book A List of Cages by Robin Roe.

It’s been a while since a book broke my heart this badly. This story is so sad, it’s hard to not be emotional while reading.

Like most books, I started this not knowing anything about it. The only thing I knew is that it’s a very popular contemporary YA novel… and that was it. It’s been on my tbr pile for a while now, so I decided to finally pick it up and see what the fuss was all about.

Let’s start to say I connected to Julien on a deeper level. I’m very fortunate to say that I didn’t suffer from physical violence, but there is no way you can’t feel bad for the poor kid. There was a point when I asked myself “what more could happen to him?”. Not only his parents died, but he’s bullied by his classmates AND teachers on a daily basis, and then he goes home and his uncle beats him up. It seems like nothing good ever happens to him, but fortunately Adam re-enters his life and makes things better.

Adam is the older brother that Julien never had, and I loved their dynamic. It was so nice to see how protective and caring Adam was to Julien, and how Julien looked up to him. Finally something good happens to him.

It’s very heartbreaking to know that this is a reality for a lot of kids worldwide. This kid did nothing wrong and yet he was subjected to so much hatred and cruelty, for no reason. This is a great book to remind us to stop whining about frivolous things because there is always someone who has it worse. The abuse described in the book is graphic, so be aware if that!

I kept thinking of the book The Perks of Being a Wallflower while reading this. Julien reminded me a lot of Charlie, he was also a wallflower! So if you liked that book, you will probably like this – just keep in mind that this is a way darker version! 

If you are in a mood to cry this is a great book for that. Just be aware of trigger warnings for domestic violence and physical abuse.

xoxo, Neide

“You guys read romance novels?”
“We call them manuals.”
5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: romance novels, toxic masculinity, divorces, baseboll, washi tape, cute baby twins, pumpkin spice lattes, destroyed walls, weddings, grand gestures and secret book clubs.

Look at that, another 5 star read… this year is starting on a good note for me! Let’s just hope it stays that way for the rest of the year.

This book was so much fun! The story follows Gavin, a professional baseball player, who is having marital problems with his wife, Thea. She wants to divorce him, but Gavin wants to fight for their marriage so he joins an all-guy book club to learn how he can get her back… using romance novels as manuals!

I’m usually not a fan of second chance romances, but this won my heart because it is so well done! And can I just say how original this story is? I know it’s not very realistic, but I loved the idea of a group of men meeting via book club to help each other with their relationships. I also loved how they were willing to try different things that are usually associated with women to get away from “toxic masculinity” – such as getting girly drinks like pumpkin spice lattes!

I also loved the characters! I loved how persistent Gavin was to get his wife back, and how Thea was trying not to succumb to his charm, the twins were adorable… but the book club guys were my favorite! Dell was the true friend everyone wants in their life. He genuinely wanted to help Gavin to get his wife back and he was always available to give advice. Mac won me over with his personality and for being so helpful to Gavin – even knowing he didn’t like him.

It’s cheesy, funny, cute, steamy and full of romance! If you like bromances and second chance romances, you would probably like this.

xoxo, Neide

“I might take risks, but they’re always worth it.” – 5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: duck wallpaper, soy milk, cheesy pasta, websites, racoons, beards, fresh brewed coffee, taxi drivers, driving lessons, Archie comics, instamodels, yetis, lost luggage and small planes.

I regularly read a lot of contemporary romance novels and I know how difficult it can be for authors to come up with an original plot that no one has seen before. At some point – after reading a good amount of romance books – you start to think that it’s very difficult to find a special and unique romance novel. This book is that special snowflake that you – my fellow romance junkie friend – are waiting for. The Simple Wild is an amazing example of an original, well executed and interesting romance!

Is it weird that two of the three books that I’ve read this year are both placed in Alaska? The setting was beautiful, and I liked that the author tried to keep things as real as possible. There were so many details that were incorporated in the story that made it realistic, like for example when Jonah told Calla she should spend water in a conscious way, or the overpriced groceries, or how everyone knew each other in their small town.

Now, the meat and potatoes of this book: the love story of a yeti and his barbie doll. The romance was EVERYTHING. I am such a sucker for a good hate-to-love trope, it’s my favorite! The chemistry between the characters was insanely good. I couldn’t get enough of that banter, I’m hoping the author kept some of that spice for the next book. With that said, if you are looking for a steamy new adult romance, I wouldn’t consider this the best choice for you. I mean, there were a couple of steamy scenes but not as much as your regular NA romance. The chemistry is definitely the base of the romance.

The characters and their relationships played a very important role on keeping me interested in reading. Calla reminded me a lot of the girl from Clueless, because even though she was a barbie doll with a good heart, she was completely – you guessed it – clueless! What was good, because yeti Jonah was more than happy to show her just how clueless she was.

I also liked that the story was complex and not based solely on a romantic relationship. There was so much going on! It is a book about family relationships, forgiveness, trying new things, getting out of your comfort zone, and living a simple life.When the sequel Wild Heart comes out in March, I’m definitely picking it up. If you like new adult romance books, you should give The Simple Wild a chance!

xoxo, Neide

“It is what I have always loved about music. Not the sounds or the crowds or the good times as much as the words — the emotions, the stories, the truth — that you can let flow right out of your mouth. Music can dig, you know? It can take a shovel to your chest and just start digging until you hit something.” – 4.5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: drug abuse, rock and roll, cute kids, hotel rooms, secret confessions, abortion, italian husbands, heart attacks, big bangles, tambourines, honeycombs, auroras, bare feet, performances, amazing records, interviews, love, hate, broken hearts and hours and hours of song writting.

I finally read “Daisy Jones & The Six”! Look at me reading adult fiction and being all grown up *smug look on my face*.

Adult fiction is not my cup of tea, but the book was so hyped that I knew I should probably pick it up. I was very surprised to see that this was very similar to “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo”. The “interview” format makes the story VERY realistic. You have to remember yourself sometimes that is is not about a real band, it is purely fiction. The cast chosen for the audiobook was incredible, and I particularly loved Daisy’s voice. It really suited her.

I enjoyed the book more than I expected. Ms. Taylor has a natural God-given talent to create perfect atmospheres in her books. When you read this book you open a window to a world where you are able to see and feel what being in the music industry was like in the sixties/seventies. The drugs, the loneliness, the drama, the alcohol, the beauty, the rock and roll… It was heartbreaking and painful and beautiful and everything felt too damn real. I know this is a story I won’t forget for a very long time.

The characters and their personalities were on point, in comparison to real artists in the music business back then. It reminded me of some very well known rock bands that went through their own problems in the past. Another thing that I liked is how everyone had their personal issues going on and how it all contributed to their end. Also, I loved the detail of the interviewer! Very nice touch 🙂

I would highly recommend the audiobook version! It definitely brings the book to life.

xoxo, Neide

“Thinking about history makes me wonder how I’ll fit into it one day, I guess. And you too. I kinda wish people still wrote like that. History, huh? Bet we could make some.” – 4/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: international flights, politics, secret emails, tabloids, campaigns, royals and scandals.

To be honest I was confused when I started reading this because I feel like the book was targeted as a Young Adult romance, but it turns out it was a (very) New Adult romance. Oh, it was just me? My bad then.

For a debut novel… not bad Ms. Casey! I completely understand why people like this so much. The plot was very original and different, the characters were funny and interesting, and the MM romance was very intense! I really liked Alex and Henry as characters. They were both very brave and even though they were so different from each other, they made a great couple.
I also feel like a big part of the book is the “what if” feeling. This book represents a alternate reality of the current governament in the United States. A half-mexican female president who won the elections in 2016? Coincidence? I don’t think so.

It was a good read, and I completely understand how it won the Goodreads Choice awards for Romance and Debut Novel.

xoxo, Neide

“People think that intimacy is about sex. But intimacy is about truth. When you realize you can tell someone your truth, when you can show yourself to them, when you stand in front of them bare and their response is ‘you’re safe with me’- that’s intimacy.” – 4.5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: marriages, divorces, beautiful gowns, milkshakes, grief, abuse, disease, homophobia, abortion, suicide, diversity, striking blond hair, women’s rights, sex, money, true love, old Hollywood glamour, movies, spotlights and expensive wine.

This is a beautifully written book, and I can understand the hype around it. Even though I knew this book was not my type, I still wanted to give it a shot.

The thing I liked the most about this book was Evelyn’s relationships. And that includes not only her marriages, but also her friends, her true lover and all the people around her. It’s safe for me to say that this book changed my perspective about marriages and relationships in general. There are so many good quotes about marriage, love and self-respect that I know I’ll take them with me for life. Here are some of them:

“Don’t ignore half of me so you can fit me into a box. Don’t do that.”

“Heartbreak is a loss. Divorce is a piece of paper.”

“It’s always been fascinating to me how things can be simultaneously true and false, how people can be good and bad all in one, how someone can love you in a way that is beautifully selfless while serving themselves ruthlessly.”

“She always made sure the bad was outweighed by so much good. I…well, I didn’t do that for her. I made it fifty-fifty. Which is about the cruelest thing you can do to someone you love, give them just enough good to make them stick through a hell of a lot of bad.”

“Sometimes divorce isn’t an earth-shattering loss. Sometimes it’s just two people waking up out of a fog.”

It is impossible to not imagine a cuban version of Marilyn Monroe while reading this book. There is no doubt in my mind that Marilyn was one of the people that inspired this novel.

The other thing that is still on my mind was how smart Evelyn was. She knew she had nothing but her beauty to climb the Hollywood social ladder. She had no money, no studies, no family, and yet, she got where she wanted. At some point later, she tells Monique: “.(…) And taking pride in your beauty is a damning act. Because you allow yourself to believe that the only thing notable about yourself is something with a very short shelf life.”
I love that TJR decided to name the book “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo”. I know it was not a random name she picked, and I love the reason behind it.

It is a great novel. The more I think about this book, the more complex it gets. I really enjoyed it.

xoxo, Neide

“For every door that’s been opened to me, I’ve tried to open my door to others. And here is what I have to say, finally: Let’s invite one another in. Maybe then we can begin to fear less, to make fewer wrong assumptions, to let go of the biases and stereotypes that unnecessarily divide us. Maybe we can better embrace the ways we are the same. It’s not about being perfect. It’s not about where you get yourself in the end. There’s power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice. And there’s grace in being willing to know and hear others. This, for me, is how we become.” – 4/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: politics, piano lessons, basketball games, Easter egg hunting, pride, the Queen of England, Beyoncé, travelling, the military, racism, the Secret Services, law school, grief, children, opportunities, elections, motherhood, healthy eating and living at the White House.

In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America—the first African American to serve in that role—she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare.

In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations—and whose story inspires us to do the same.

Even though I’m not an american citizen myself, I have always respected Barack and Michelle Obama. And now, after reading this book, I feel like I respect them even more – not only as professionals but as human beings.

I remember thinking a few years ago that Michelle should run for office. But now, after reading her autobiography, I finally understood that it would never happen. And I honestly can’t blame her. Keep in mind that even though it is mentioned frequently, this is NOT a book about politics or the ex-president’s term. It’s a book about a woman and her family, growing up and helping others – becoming.

This is a very honest and inspirational biography in my opinion. I cried. A lot. The feeling of pride, love and hope I felt while reading this made me so incredibly happy. This book reminded me that there are still good people out there that genuinely care about others and actively work to make the world a better place. I listened to the audiobook version and I’m glad Michelle is the one telling her own story!

Michelle is the intelligent, caring, confident, strong woman I could only dream of being one day.

xoxo,